The bikram yoga lesson
What exactly is Bikram Yoga? It is a 90 minute hatha yoga lesson conducted in a heated room of 40 degrees Celsius, it consists of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. That’s Bikram Yoga and it works! In a Bikram Yoga lesson, oxygen rich blood flows to each cell in your body and you move your entire spine the way it was designed to move in order to strengthen your nervous system. Bikram Yoga can, and in many cases should be, done every day because the more you do it, the more you learn about your body and mind and the better you feel!
Please scroll to bottom to see our full statement regarding the current publicity concerning Bikram Choudhury, the founder of Bikram Yoga. I, Lydia (owner) condemn his behavior and distance myself from him. I have decided to change the name but that doesn’t mean I am going to rush this, since I have already been working on a rebrand for a while. Therefore it will take a little longer before I can share my ambitions with the school and the name with you.
Each posture prepares for the next
The Bikram Yoga series is composed so that each posture builds on the previous. Each lesson we do the same postures in the same order and we do each posture twice. The lesson remains the same, but you change over time and it happens quickly when practiced in the hot room. You will gain a better understanding of your body in the postures and each lesson you will see and feel improvements.
Do what you hear
During a Bikram Yoga class the teachers do not do the postures. Instead, they give detailed yet simple and easy to follow instructions on how to do the postures. It is simple; do what you hear when you hear it. You just do the posture to the best of your ability each time and stay in the yoga room. If you need to take a break stay in the room and the teacher can keep an eye on you and help you if needed. It is not required to do all of the postures, once in a while you can take a break by skipping a posture. But over time you will be strong enough and have enough focus to do all the postures and remain calm and relaxed with your breathing and focus. It is an active meditation.
The standing series
The first half of the Bikram Yoga lesson we do the standing postures. If a break is need the best thing to do is stay focused by looking in the mirror one point, stay listening to the teacher and slowly sit down on your knees. Work on slowing and relaxing your breathing (in and out through your nose) and when you feel better you slowly join again. It is best to keep your head above your heart, you are still gaining benefits by staying in the hot room and breathing in the warm air.
The floor series
The second half of the Bikram Yoga lesson we do the postures on the floor. If you want to take a break now, it is best that you lay on either your back or your belly depending on which posture the class is doing at that moment. If it is a posture done on the belly, lay on your belly. If it is a posture done on your back, stay laying on your back. Focus on your breathing and keep listening to the instructions. Once you feel ready, join in again.
Always different
No Bikram Yoga lesson is the same. The postures always feel different, depending on what is currently happening with you, both in the yoga room and outside in your daily life. All you have to do is listen to what the teacher says, try the postures to the best of your ability and observe what you feel with out reacting to it, just breath.
Control
Control your breathing, even if your heart is pounding. Maintain your concentration, even though the sweat is dripping off of you. Remain in the posture, even though you’re tired. Over time, you will have complete control over your breathing and your body and you can go deeper into the postures in a quiet way and relaxed way. You seek to find the space of gently pushing your boundaries and remaining in relaxation; this is yoga at it’s most simple definition. Injuries heal quicker and your body and mind become stronger.
How good is Bikram Yoga for you?
With Bikram Yoga you develop your strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. Besides this, you will find peace and stillness in your mind. You gain more confidence and increase your self-control. Your determination, patience and concentration increase. And all this has an effect on all areas of your life. So if you ask “Is Bikram Yoga good for you?” We respond with a resounding “Yes!” Read all about your first Bikram Yoga lesson →
Why is it called Bikram Yoga?
Bikram Yoga was developed by a man named Bikram Choudhury. He was born in Calcutta began practicing yoga at the age of four. By the age of twelve he was youngest national yoga champion of India, a title he defended for three years. Bikram’s guru was Bishnu Ghosh, the brother of Yogananda Paramahansa who famously wrote “Autobiography of a Yogi” and was responsible for bringing yoga to the West.
At the age of seventeen Bikram seriously injured his knee while lifting weights. He was told that he will never walk again. However, Bikram returned to his guru and with Bishnu Ghosh he developed the Bikram yoga system. It is thanks to this yoga that his knee healed completely. In the 30 years following he worked to perfect and spread this universally accessible form of yoga in the world
Statement concerning Bikram Choudhury?
When I (Lydia) opened my 1st yoga school, Bikram Yoga Den Haag in 2006 and my 2nd yoga school, Bikram Yoga Rotterdam in 2008 the idea was simple. Create a safe and welcoming space to teach and practice Bikram Yoga.
Since opening the 1st school, I have witnessed 1000’s of people give this yoga the dedication it requires (which is not easy) and experience profound life changing results. Bikram Yoga, in it’s simplicity of 26 postures, 2 breathing exercises done in a heated room for 90 minutes, was and still is the best tool I have found to have a healthy and profound impact on the lives of so many people, regardless of age, size, ability or health conditions.
Over the past few years there have been unpleasant revelations about Bikram Choudhury (BC), the man who introduced the 90 minute 26 posture series known as Bikram Yoga. Accusations include abuse of power, sexual misconduct and assault.
To be clear, I unequivocally condemn this behavior. I support the women and men that were victims of this abuse. I do not financially contribute to Bikram Choudhury in any way, nor have either one of my yoga schools ever been part of a franchise or sent Bikram Choudhury any money from the daily operations of either school. As for the names Bikram Yoga Den Haag and Rotterdam, there was no payment whatsoever.
In 2012 rumors about misconduct at a Teacher Training surfaced, though the details were murky. In 2013, Sarah Baugh went public with her story. I made the decision to inform students interested in Teacher Training about the accusations, and to no longer write the required recommendation letter for admission to Bikram’s teacher training.
Since opening my 1st school I followed the same strong procedure for new teachers that was started by my predecessors at Bikram Yoga Amsterdam. When yoga students showed interest in the teacher training, they all received the same criteria: practice for 2 years minimum, 5 classes per week. The reason for this was simple, to develop a team of strong, enduring and dedicated people to become teachers at my yoga schools.
The name of Bikram Yoga Den Haag refers to the practice that is taught there. I and all the other Bikram schools in the Netherlands have worked very hard and diligently to create a strong and positive reputation for the yoga series. ‘Hot Yoga’ has become an umbrella term for all yoga practiced in a heated environment. The name Bikram Yoga differentiates us from all the other ‘hot yoga’. What we do is a specific series with specific conditions that have fantastic results. At Bikram Yoga Den Haag, we only teach the Bikram Yoga series, hence the name Bikram Yoga Den Haag.
However, as moments are ever changing I would like to share my thoughts and feelings with you about the current publicity about the founder of Bikram Yoga. To be clear again; I condemn his behavior and I as a business owner and teacher distance myself from him.
I have decided to change the name but that doesn’t mean I am going to rush this, since I have already been working on a rebrand for a while. Therefore it will take a little longer before I can share my ambitions with the school and the name with you.